The Ontario government recognizes that all is not well in the way the courts handle people accused of crimes before their cases go to trial, Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur said in the legislature Thursday morning.

Lanark-Frontenanc-Lennox and Addington Progressive Conservative MPP Randy Hillier took the issue of Ontario’s very high rate of criminal charges dropped before trial in the legislature. Meilleur didn’t exactly engage with the questions he raised, talking more about what’s done with the accused while they wait rather than why they’re waiting in the first place. But she did acknowledge that the system needs work. Here’s the exchange from Hansard:

Mr. Randy Hillier: My question is to the Attorney General. The Ottawa Citizen has reported that Ontario has “freakishly high” rates of stayed and withdrawn criminal cases. In fact, over 90,000 criminal cases last year were thrown out, a whopping 44% of all cases before trial. The minister talks about access to justice, but in fact, her actions are hindering and making a mockery of justice. We know it takes an average of 125 days and upwards of 10 court appearances before these charges are finally stayed or withdrawn. Their liberty is denied. Their freedoms are extinguished. Speaker, can the minister explain why the crown is dropping close to 50% of all criminal cases after Ontario residents have already spent upwards of 125 days behind bars? Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: In Ontario, we have and we want a fair, effective and efficient bail and remand system in a key priority—it’s a key priority for our government. We recognize that there are issues, you know? That’s why we’re working—we’re working with the ministry of community safety and correction. We’re working with the judicial. We’re working with the crown. We’re working—we have everybody at the table to review the situation and to improve the situation, because the last thing we want is people being in jail who should not be there. We know that we have the capacity challenges and we want to resolve that. So that’s why everybody is at the table and we have already provided and started some pilot projects and we will— The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you. Supplementary? Mr. Randy Hillier: Let’s just be clear. Again, to the Attorney General. Nearly half of all criminal cases are stayed or withdrawn before trial. Half. It’s a clear sign that things are broken. This overloads our already taxed courtrooms. It leads to and amplifies overcrowding in our detention centres. It adds cost and anguish to those charged, and it is an abuse of process, which erodes the public’s confidence. There is an appalling lack of coordination between the Attorney General, our courts and this government. They are wasting needed resources and depriving people of their civil liberties. I want to know: who is at fault? Is it the Attorney General? Is it the ministry of community safety and corrections? Or is it both of them, and who is going to fix it? Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: I will say, Mr. Speaker, that it’s all of us that are going to work together to fix it and the work has already begun. Like I said, we have pilot projects. We have to also work with the judiciary. Here, on this side of the House, we don’t tell the judiciary what to do. We work together. That’s why at my justice roundtable, all of these people are at the table and we’re working very hard. We have different groups working together. We have different pilot projects. For instance, in Ottawa, we have now a crown advising the police and— Interjections. The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Order. Interjections. The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): If you speak to the Chair, you’ll know when I’m standing. I would ask the member from Kitchener–Waterloo to come to order and the member from Lanark to come to order, and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Wrap up, please. Hon. Madeleine Meilleur: In Ottawa, we have two pilot projects. One of them is that a crown is working with the police to make sure that only cases that should go to jail, go to jail; and on the cases that go to trial, go to trial. It’s been successful as well— The Speaker (Hon. Dave Levac): Thank you.

The peculiar thing about this, to me, is that nobody seems to have a clear idea why Ontario should be so very different from all the other provinces. Including the minister responsible.

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